(Quebec) “Great sadness” but also “anger” inhabit the owner of the Ste-Rose educational daycare center in Laval, who lost “two little butterflies” last week in a tragedy that shook all of Quebec.
Nancy Gschwender speaks publicly for the first time since the tragedy. We saw her speak a few words to Prime Minister François Legault and the leaders of the opposition during their site visit on Thursday, but she was not ready to testify at the time. She confides in a letter sent to The Press.
“Last Wednesday, my heart broke,” writes Nancy Gschwender, who has worked in early childhood for more than 30 years.
Even three decades of experience could not prepare me for the tragedy that occurred on February 8.
Nancy Gschwender, owner of the Ste-Rose educational daycare center in Laval
She was not present at the daycare when the bus driver drove his vehicle into the building, killing two young children and seriously injuring six others on Wednesday.
Alerted by her team of educators, she rushed to the scene to lend a hand. The police had just cordoned off the area. They refused to allow her to cross the security perimeter.
“Despite my protest and my insistence, I remained behind the stage, helpless. Helpless in the most crucial minutes when I knew my team needed support, ”she laments.
Tribute to educators
The owner pays tribute to the educators and staff members who “that morning, despite the fact that their lives were also in danger, […] gave everything […] to help injured children and child witnesses”. The daycare director was able to help them: she arrived a few minutes after the impact, before the police. “They all mobilized quickly to intervene with the children and then to accompany the first responders in transporting and supporting the children. These reassuring and familiar faces that were essential for our children during these great moments of crisis. »
Nancy Gschwender would have liked to be by their side, in the premises, on this tragic morning. That she was denied access to her own daycare clearly marked her. She testifies to her torment in the letter, speaking directly to members of her staff. “To the team, to the director, I tell you: this feeling of helplessness haunts me. I wish I could chase away the images that will remain etched in your memory forever. But also know that you have all my admiration and my eternal gratitude. »
Detained outside the security perimeter, the owner welcomed the children to a school located very close to the premises, with the help of the general manager.
Despite the great sadness and anger that inhabit me, I feel very proud of the entire team, which shone with all its courage and love.
Nancy Gschwender, owner of the Ste-Rose educational daycare center in Laval
The owner of the daycare also says she is “eternally grateful to the parents on site, the neighborhood, as well as the first responders”. “Your support was paramount,” she says.
She is “moved by the support, empathy and generosity” offered by the daycare network, the Laval community, but also by Quebec and the whole country.
Nancy Gschwender says she has been working “tirelessly” with her team since Wednesday to support families, in collaboration with the Ministry of Families, the City of Laval, the CIUSSS and its insurer. “It is essential for us to relocate our families and continue to offer them our services. The well-being of our children remains the priority for our team, even in these difficult times. »
But despite the pride felt for her team and the gratitude towards all those involved, her “heart remains broken”, she concludes. “My heart is broken as lives have been unjustly and cruelly stolen and shattered. »
Letter from Nancy Gschwender
First of all, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the families of the two little butterflies who left too soon.
For my part, for more than 30 years I have been working in the field of early childhood. I have dedicated my career to providing the best possible services in the field of early childhood. But even three decades of experience could not prepare me for the tragedy that occurred on February 8th.
Last Wednesday my heart broke. I was not there when the event occurred. After receiving the call, I immediately went to the daycare to help. Upon arriving on the scene, the security perimeter was already installed. I couldn’t cross it. Despite my protest and my insistence, I remained behind the stage, helpless. Helpless in the most crucial minutes when I knew my team needed support. A team that gives body and soul daily, that accompanies and is dedicated to the well-being of our children.
That morning, despite the fact that their lives were also in danger, they gave their all. Everything given to help injured children and child witnesses. Personnel were already on site at the time of the accident. My director arrived a few minutes after the impact, but before the first responders. They all mobilized quickly to intervene with the children and then to accompany the first responders in transporting and supporting the children. These reassuring and familiar faces that were essential for our children during these great moments of crisis.
To the team, to the director, I tell you: this feeling of helplessness haunts me. I wish I could chase away the images that will remain etched in your memory forever. But also know that you have all my admiration and my eternal gratitude. I’m proud of you.
I will also be forever grateful to my Executive Director who also ended up behind the perimeter with me. Together, we immediately mobilized to help welcome the children to school near the scene of the accident.
Despite the great sadness and anger that inhabit me, I feel very proud of the entire team, which shone with all its courage and love. My directors and I, through our administrative functions, have been working tirelessly since Wednesday to support our families, our dear community. We work in collaboration with our partners at the Ministère de la Famille, the City of Laval, the CIUSS and our insurer, to offer the greatest support. It is essential for us to relocate our families and continue to offer them our services. The well-being of our children remains the priority for our team, even in these difficult times.
I will also be eternally grateful to the parents on site, the neighborhood, as well as the first responders who mobilized to provide care to the victims and support to our team, but also to accompany the children and my team in the hours that followed. follow up. Your support was essential. I am also particularly moved by the support, empathy and generosity offered to us by the daycare community, the Laval community, as well as Quebec and Canada as a whole.
Despite the pride I feel for the daycare team and my gratitude to all those directly or indirectly involved, my heart remains broken. My heart is broken as lives have been unjustly and cruelly stolen and shattered.
My thoughts and those of my team are with all the injured children and their families, as well as all those who have been shaken by this tragedy.
Nancy Gschwender, owner of the Ste-Rose educational daycare